Well bore testing and displacing valve apparatus



A. w. KAMMERER, JR 3,306,365

2v 'sheets-sheet 1 WELL BORE TESTING AND DISPLACINGv VALVE APPARATUSFeb. 28, 1967 Filed May 13, 1963 INVENTOR MMEQEQ, fle.

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Feb. 28, 1967 A. w. KAMMERER, JR 3,306,365

WELL BORE TESTING AND DISPLACING VALVE APPARATUS Filed May l5, 1963 2Sheets-Sheet 2 4J n w I N VENTOR.

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BY www 7 l 7 2 d. l 3 5 :Pw .d A 2m 2 d. 5

TTOQIVEYS.

United States Patent Oflce 3,306,365 WELL BORE TESTING AND DISPLACINGVALVE APPARATUS Archer W. Kammerer, Jr., Houston, Tex., assignor toBaker Oil Tools, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of CaliforniaFiled May 13, 1963, Ser. No. 279,911 16 Claims. (Cl. 166-224) Thepresent invention relates to subsurface wel] bore apparatus, and moreparticularly to valve apparatus for controlling flow of fluids in thewell bore in the periormance of operations .therewithin An object of theinvention is to provide valve apparatus yadapted to be incorporated in atubing string disposed in a well bore in connection with a Well packerset therewithin, which enables testing of the packer t-o lbe performedafter the surface connections to the tubing string have been made at thetop of the well bore, and without the necessity for moving the tubingstring.

Another object of the invention is to provide valve apparatus of thecharacter indicated, which enables tluid to be circulated in the wellbore after the packer testing has been performed without the need formoving the tubing string in the well bore.

A further object of the invention is to provide valve apparatus adaptedto be incorporated in a tubing string disposed in the well bore inconnection with la well packer se-t therewithin, the valve apparatusbeing closed to permit testing of the packer by imposing pressure on thefluid in the annulus surrounding the tubing string, such pressure beingincapable of shifting the valve apparatus to closed position, the valveapparatus being readily opened merely by imposing pressure on t'he lluidin the tubing string, whereupon the valve Iapparatus can be reclosed byirnposing pressure on the lluid in the tubing string, the passagethrough the valve apparatus being open or unobstructed after itsreclosing.

'Ihis invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich may be made more clearly apparent from a considerati-on of a formin which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawingsaccompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will nowbe described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the generalprinciples of the invention; but it is to be runderstood that suchdetailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since thescope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal section through a valve apparatus connectedto a tubing string and well packer disposed in a well bore or casing,with the valve 'apparatus in its initial closed position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section similar to FIG. 1,illustrating the valve apparatus in an open condition;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the valve apparatus inits reclosed condition;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 4-4 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 5-5 on FIG. l;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 6-6 on FIG. l.

As illustrated in the drawings, a valve apparatus A is incorporated in atubing string 'B disposed in a well casing C Within a well bore, thetubing string extending to the top of the hole. The lower portion of thevalve apparatus is illustrated as being placed in association with awell packer D anchored in packed-off condition in the well casing. Tshewell packer .can be of any suitable type.

The valve apparatus A includes an elongate housing or Patented Feb. Z8,1967 outer tubular member 10 having a lower threaded pin 11 that enablesthe housing to be secured directly to the well packer, or to anintervening length of tubing secured t0 or otherwise associated with thewell packer in leakproof relation with respect thereto. As specificallyillustrated by way of example, the lthreaded pin is threadedly securedto a collar 12 that is threaded on to the upper end of the tubular body13 of the well packer D which has suitable slips or gripping members 14and a packing structure 15 mounted on it for engagement with the wall ofthe well casing C. The well packer may have a passage 16 extendingtherethrough to permit Iwell production to flow into the packer andthrough the housing 10 and tubing string B to the top of the well bore.

The outer tubular member or housing 10` includes a housing sub 17threadedly secured to the upper portion of the main body 18 of thetubular member, this sub having a threaded box 19 for threadedlyreceiving the :lower threaded pin 20 of a tubing section 21, thissection constituting part of the tubing string B extending to the top ofthe well bore. The outer member 10 has a plurality of side ports 22providing communication between its interior and exterior, which sideports are closed initially by a lower differential valve sleeve 23slidable longitudinally within the tubular member. The valve sleeve isdisposed below an upper valve sleeve 24 Ithat has a shoulder 25 engagingthe lower end 26 of the housing sub or yupper section 17, the uppervalve sleeve being held initially in such position by one or a pluralityof shear screws 27 attaching it to the sub. Integral with the valvesleeve 24 are a plurality of upwardly extending flexible arms 28terminating in outwardly projecting fingers 29 disposed initially withinthe restricted diameter bore 30 of the housing sub, the inwardlyprojecting fingers providing a seat 31 for a valve element 32, such as aball, adapted to be lowered or pumped down the tubing string intoengagement therewith. The arms 28 and ngers 29 inherently tend to springoutwarly, but are conned initially by the wall 30 of the housing sub 17,so as to project inwardly of the central passage 33 through the sub andsleeve 24.

The upper valve sleeve 24 has an external diameter 34 conforming to theinternal diameter 35 of the tubular member on opposite sides of its.ports 22, there being a suitable seal ring 36 mounted on the lowerportion of the upper valve sleeve adapted to slidably seal against thewall 35 of the tubular member on opposite sides of its ports 22. Thebore 37 through the Itubular member 10 below the housing sub 17 isenlarged in diameter to prevent any sealing action by an upper seal ring38, mounted on the upper valve sleeve 24, with the tubular member whenthe upper valve sleeve is in its upper position, thereby preventing theexistence of any pressure differentials upon the upper seal ring 38 andthe lower seal ring 36 that might deform such rings and resist movementof the upper sleeve valve 24 in the tubular member. The upper seal ring38, however, is adapted to slidably seal with the inner wall portion 35of the tubular member when the upper sleeve valve 24 is shifteddownwardly across the ports 22, as described hereinbelow.

The lower dilferential sleeve valve member 23 is disposed initiallyacross the ports 22 to close the same. A-s shown in FIG. 1, its upperend 39 .is adapted toengage the lower end 40 of the upper valve sleeve,which will preclude upward movement of the lower valve sleeve 23 withinthe tubular member, since the upper valve sleeve shoulder 25 is engagingthe stop shoulder 26 provided by the housing sub. Initially, downwardmovement of the lower valve sleeve is prevented by one or a plurality ofshear screws 41 extending into a bore or groove 42 in the lower valvesleeve and secured to a shearing ring 43 resting upon an inwardlydirected llange or valve seat 44 projecting inwardly of the tubularmember 10. The lower valve sleeve 23 includes an upper valve head 46which initially engages the wall 35 of the tubular member above the sideports 22, and also a lower valve head portion 47 that initially engagesthe cylindrical seat 44 of the tubular member. A suitable seal `ring 48is mounted on the upper head 46 for slidable sealing engagement with theinner wall 35 of the tubular member; whereas, the lower cylindricalvalve seat 44 carries a suitable seal ring 49 engaging the periphery ofthe lower valve head 47. With the valve sleeve in its positionillustrated in FIG. l, any fluid under pressure within the tubularmember is acting `downwardly on the `sleeve 23 over the annular a-rea Rof the upper valve head, and is acting upwardly over the annular area Sof the lower valve head, the annular area R being greater than theannular area S by the differential area T indicated as being the area ofthe underside of the upper valve head (FIG. 1). Below the cylindricalvalve seat 44, the internal diameter 50 of the outer tubular member orhousing 10 is enlarged, for the purpose that will be describedherein-below. Between the upper and lower heads 46, 47, the exterior ofthe lower differential valve sleeve is provided with a plurality oflongitudinal bleeder or by-pass grooves 51.

The valve apparatus A forms part of the tubing string B, its parts beingarranged initially in the relative positions illustrated in FIG. 1, inwhich the lower differential valve sleeve 23 is disposed across the sideports 22 to close the same. Downward movement of the differential valvesleeve is prevented by the shear screw or screws 41 and the shearingring 43 engaging the lower valve seat 44, whereas upward movement of thelower sleeve valve is prevented by its engagement with the upper valveSleeve 24, which, in turn, is shouldered against the housing sub 17. Theball seat fingers 29 project inwardly of the housing sub passage.

The tubing string B is placed in association with the packer D, which isanchored in packed-off condition against the well casing C. Appropriateconnections (not shown) to the tubing string B and casing C are made atthe top of the `well bore. The testing of the packer D can now takeplace by imposing pressure on the liquid in the annulus 60 between thetubing string and casing. The fluid pressure passes through the ports 22and acts on the underside 70 of the head of the sleeve valve over thedifferential area T, tending to shift the lower valve 23 upwardly.However, such shifting cannot occur since the lower valve sleeve abutsthe upper valve sleeve 24, which, in turn, abuts the lower end 26 of thehousing sub 17. Any 4desired test pressures can be imposed on the fluidor liquid in the tubing-casing string annulus 60 to pressure test thewell packer, without such pressure being capable of shifting the lowerdifferential valve sleeve 23 to port opening position.

After the well packer D has been tested, it is desired to displace thefluid in the `well casing. It is only necessary to impose pressure onthe fluid or liquid in the tubing string B, whichwill act downwardly onthe differential valve 23 over the area T (R minus S), and when suchpressure is sufficient to overcome the shear strength of the screws 41,the latter are disrupted and .the lower valve 23 is shifted downwardlyto the position illustrated in FIG. 2, in which the shearing ring 43rests upon the lower cylindrical valve seat 44 and the upper valve head46 engages the shearing ring. During such downward shifting, fluid isnot trapped between the upper valve head 46 and the lower cylindricalseat 44 since the bypass or bleeder grooves 51 extend from a positionabove the cylindrical valve seat to a position therebelow after thevalve head 46 has shifted below the side ports 22. Accordingly, thefluid below the upper head 46 can move downwardly around the outside ofthe valve sleeve and into the central passage of the tubular member 10.

The valve apparatus is now in the open condition illustrated in FIG. 2,and circulating fluid can be pumped down through the tubing string B forupward passage through the open ports 22 and return flow through thetubing-casing annulus 60 to the top of the well bore. During theshifting of the differential sleeve valve 23 downwardly to port openingposition, movement of the tubing string B, or disturbing of the surfaceconnections at the top of the well bore to the tubing string and thewell casing, is unnecessary.

After circulation has been completed, it is desired to reclose the sideports 22 through the tubular member 10. This action is performed bydropping a suitable valve element 32, such as a ball, of an appropriatediameter into the tubing string B and pumping the ball or allowing it togravitate down through the tubing string into engagement with the valveseat 31 afforded by the inwardly projecting fingers 29. When the ballengages such seat, pressure can be built up in the `fluid or liquid inthe tubing string B sucient to overcome the shear strength of the screws27 releasably securing the upper valve sleeve 24 to the housing sub 17.Upon shearing of such screws, the upper sleeve valve 24 is shifteddownwardly to a position in which its lower end 40 engages the upper end39 of the lower sleeve valve 23, the fingers 29 moving out of therestricted housing passage 30 and into the enlarged diameter portion 37of the tubular member, the arms 28 and fingers 29 inherently springingoutwardly to an effective diameter greater than the diameter of the ballvalve element 32, allowing the latter to drop downwardly through thesleeve valves 24, 23 and the well packer D into the well boretherebelow. The valve element 29 springs outwardly below the housingshoulder 26, `which will preclude inadvertent return movement of theupper sleeve valve 24 toward its initial position, insuring itsretention in closed position across the side ports 22, with its upperand lower seals 38, 36 engaging the wall 35 of the tubular member onopposite sides of the ports (FIG. 3). The application of pressure to thefluid in the tubing string B has effected downward shifting of the uppervalve closing sleeve 24. It is unnecessary to disturb any connections tothe tubing string at the top of the well bore.

I claim:

1. In subsurface valve apparatus adapted for connection to a tubingstring to be disposed in a well bore: a tubular member adapted to beconnected to the tubing string and having a side port; an upper valvemember in said tubular member disposed initially above said port; alower valve member in said tubular member disposed initially across saidport to close the same, said lower member including an upper head.portion in sealing relation to said tubular member above said port anda lower head portion in sealing relation to said tubular member belowsaid port, the upper head portion having an upwardly facing totaltransverse area subject to fluid pressure in said tubular member greaterthan the downwardly facing total transverse area of said lower headportion subject to fluid pressure in said tubular member to provide adifferential area on said lower valve member subject to the pressure offluid in the tubular member tending to shift said lower memberdownwardly in the tubular member to port opening position; and means forshifting said upper valve member downwardly in said tubular member toport closing position.

2. In subsurface valve apparatus adapted for connection to a tubingstring to be disposed in a well bore: a tubular member adapted to beconnected to the tubing string and having -a side port; an upper valvemember in said tubular member disposed initially above said port andengaged with said tubular member to prevent upward movement of saidupper valve member therewithin; a lower valve member in said tubularmember disposed initially across said port to close the same and adaptedto engage said upper member to prevent upward movement of said lowermember in said tubular member to port opening position; said lowermember including an upper head portion in sealing relation to saidtubular member above said port and a lower head portion in sealingrelation to said tubular member below said port, the upper head portionhaving an upwardly facing total transverse area subject to fluidpressure in said tubular member greater than the downwardly facing totaltransverse area of said lower head portion subject to fluid pressure insaid tubular member to provide a differential area on said lower valvemember subject to the pressure of fluid in the tubular member tending toshift said lower member downwardly in the tubular member to port openingposition; and means for shifting said upper valve member downwardly insaid tubular member to port closing position.

3. In subsurface valve apparatus adapted for connection to a tubingstring to be disposed in a well bore: a tubular member adapted to beconnected to the tubing string and having a side port; an upper valvemember in said tubular member disposed initially above said port; firstreleasable means releasably securing said upper valve member to saidtubular member in said initial positi-on; a lower valve member in saidtubular member disposed initially across said port to close the same;second releasable means preventing downward movement of said lower valvemember; said lower valve member including an upper head portion insealing relation to said tubul-ar member above said port and a lowerhead portion in sealing relation to said tubular member below said port,the upper head portion having an upwardly facing total transverse areasubject to fluid pressure in said tubular member greater than thedownwardly facing total transverse area of said lower head portionsubject to fluid pressure in said tubular member to provide adifferential area on said lower member subject to the pressure of fluidin the tubular member tending to release said second releasable meansand shift said lower member downwardly in the tubular member to portopening position; and means for releasing said first releasable meansand for shifting said upper valve member downwardly in said tubularmember to port closing position.

4. In subsurface valve apparatus adapted for connection to a tubingstring to be disposed in a well bore: a tubular member adapted to beconnected to the tubing string and having a side port; an upper valvemember in said tubular member disposed initially above said port andengaged with said tubular member to prevent upward movement of saidupper valve member therewithin; first releasable means releasablysecuring said upper valve member to said tubular member to preventdownward movement of said upper valve member from said initial position;a lower valve member in said tubular member disposed initially acrosssaid port to close the same and ad-apted t-o engage said upper member toprevent upward movement of said lower member in said tubular member toport opening position; second releasable means preventing downwardmovement of said lower valve member; said lower valve member includingan upper head portion in sealing relation to said tubular member abovesaid port and a lower head portion in sealing relation to said tubularmember below said port, the upper head portion havingan upwardly facingtot-al transverse area subject to fluid pressure in said tubular membergreater than the downwardly facing total transverse area of said -lowerhead portion subject to uid pressure in said tubular member to provide'a differential `area on said lower member subject to the pressure offluid in the tubular member tending to `release said second releasablemeans and shift said lower member downwardly in the tubular member toport opening position; and means for releasing said first releasablemeans yand for shifting said upper valve member downwardly in saidtubular member to port closing position.

5. In subsurface valve apparatus adapted for connection t-o a tubingstring to be disposed in a well bore: a tubular member adapted to beconnected to the tubing string and having a side port; an upper valvesleeve in said tubular member disposed initially above said port; alower -valve sleeve in said tubular member disposed initially acrosssaid port to close the same, s-aid lower sleeve including `an upper headportion in sealing relation to said tubular member above said port and alower -head portion in sealing relation to said tubular member belowsaid port, the upper yhead portion having an upwardly facing totaltransverse area subject to fiuid pressure in said tubular member greaterthan the downwardly facing total transverse area of said lower headportion subject to fluid pressure in said tubular member to provide adifferential area on said lower sleeve subject to the pressure of fluidin the tubular member tending to shift said lower sleeve downwardly inthe tubular member to port opening position; and means for shiftingsa-id lupper valve lsleeve downwardly in said tubular member to portclosing position.

6. In subsurface valve apparatus adapted for connection to a tubingstring to be disposed in a well bore: a tubular member adapted to beconnected to the tubing string and having a side port; an upper valvesleeve in said tubular member disposed initially above said port andengaged with said tubular member to prevent upward movement of saidupper valve sleeve therewithin; a lower valve sleeve in said tubularmember disposed initially across said port to close the same and adaptedto engage said upper sleeve to prevent upward movement of said lowersleeve in said tubular member to port opening position, said lowersleeve including an upper head portion in sealing relation to saidtubular member above said port and a lower portion in sealing relationto said tubular member below said port, the upper head portion having anupwardly facing total transverse area subject to uid pressure in saidtubular member greater than the downwardly facing total transverse areaof said lower head portion subject to fluid pres-sure in said tubularmember to provide a differential area on said lower sleeve subject tothe pressure of fluid in the tubular member tending to shift said lowersleeve downwardly in the tubular member to port opening position; andmeans for shifting said upper valve sleeve downwardly in said tubularmember to port closing position.

7. In subsurface valve apparatus adapted for connection to a tubingstring to be disposed in a well bore: a tubular member adapted to beconnected to the tubing string and having a side port; an upper valvesleeve in said tubular member disposed initially above said port andengaged with said tubular member to prevent upward movement of saidupper valve sleeve therewithin; first releasable means releasablysecuring said upper valve sleeve to said tubular member in said initialposition; a lower valve sleeve in said tubular member disposed initiallyacross said port to close the same; second releasable means preventingdownward movement of said lower Valve sleeve; said lower valve sleeveincluding an upper head portion in sealing relation to said tubularmember above said port and a lower head portion in sealing relation tosaid tubular member below said port, the upper head portion having anupwardly facing total transverse area subject to fiuid pressure in saidtubular member greater than the downwardly facing total transverse areaof said lower head portion subject to fluid pressure in said tubularmember to provide a differential area on said lower sleeve subject tothe pressure of fiuid in the tubular member tending to release saidsecond releasable means and shift said lower sleeve downwardly in thetubular member to port opening position; and means for releasing saidfirst releasable means and for shifting said upper valve sleevedownwardly in said tubular member to port closing position.

8. In subsurface valve apparatus adapted for connection to a tubingstring to be disposed in a well bore: a tubular member adapted to beconnected to the tubing string and having a side port; said tubularmember having a first portion above and below said port of a particularinternal diameter and a second portion substantially below said port ofan internal diameter smaller than the internal diameter of said firstportion; an upper valve sleeve in said tubular member disposed initiallyabove said port and having an external diameter conforming to theinternal diameter of said first portion; a lower valve sleeve in saidtubular member disposed initially across said port to close the same,said lower sleeve including an upper head portion in sealing relation tosaid first portion above said port and a lower head portion in sealingrelation to said second portion, said upper and lower head portionsproviding a differential area on said lower sleeve subject to thepressure of fiuid in the tubular member tending to shift said lowersleeve downwardly in the tubular member to port opening position; andmeans for shifting said upper valve sleeve downwardly in said tubularmember to port closing position.

9. In subsurface valve apparatus adapted for connection to a tubingstring to be disposed in a well bore: a tubular member adapted to beconnected to the tubing string and having a side port; said tubularmember having a first portion above and below said port of a particularinternal diameter and a second portion substantially below said port ofan internal diameter smaller than the internal diameter of said firstportion; an upper valve sleeve in said tubular member disposed initiallyabove said port and engageable with said tubular member to preventupward movement of said upper valve sleeve therewithin, said uppersleeve having an external diameter conforming to the internal diameterof said first portion; a lower valve sleeve in said tubular memberdisposed initially across said port to close the same and adapted toengage said upper sleeve to prevent upward movement of said lower sleevein said tubular member to port opening position; said lower sleeveincluding an upper head portion in sealing relation to said firstportion above said port and a lower head portion in sealing relation tosaid second portion, said upper and lower head portions providing adifferential area on said lower sleeve subject to the pressure of fiuidin the tubular member to shift said lower sleeve downwardly in thetubular member to port opening position; and means for shifting saidupper valve sleeve downwardly in said tubular member to port closingposition.

10. In subsurface valve apparatus adapted for connection to a tubingstring to be disposed in a well bore: a tubular member adapted to beconnected to the tubing string and having a side port; said tubularmember having a first portion above and below said port of a particularinternal diameter and a second portion substantially below said port ofan internal diameter smaller than the internal diameter of said firstportion; an upper valve sleeve in said tubular member disposed initiallyabove said port and engageable with said tubular member to preventupward movement of said upper valve sleeve therewithin and having anexternal diameter conforming to the internal diameter of said firstportion; first releasable means releasably securing said upper valvesleeve to said tubular member in said initial position and againstdownward movement in said tubular member; a lower valve sleeve in saidtubular member disposed initially across said port to close the same andadapted to engage said upper sleeve to prevent upward movement of saidlower sleeve in said tubular member to port opening position; secondreleasable means preventing downward movement of said lower sleeve; saidlower sleeve including an upper head portion in sealing relation to saidfirst portion above said port and a lower head portion in sealingrelation to said second portion, said upper and lower head portionsproviding a differential area on said lower sleeve subject to thepressure of fluid in the tubular member tending to release said secondreleasable means and shift said lower sleeve downwardly in the tubularmember to port opening position; and means for releasing said firstreleasable .means and for shifting said upper valve sleeve downwardly insaid tubular member to port closing position.

11. In subsurface valve apparatus adapted for connection to a tubingstring to be disposed in a well bore; a tubular member adapted to beconnected to the tubing string and having a side port; said tubularmember having a first portion above and below said port of a particularinternal diameter and a second portion substantially below said port ofan internal diameter smaller than the internal diameter of said firstportion; an upper valve sleeve in said tubular member disposed initiallyabove said port and engageable with said tubular member to preventupward movement of said upper valve sleeve therewithin and having anexternal diameter conforming to the internal diameter of said firstportion; frangible means releasably securing said upper valve sleeve tosaid tubular member in said initial position and against downwardmovement in said tubular member; a lower valve sleeve in said tubularmember disposed initially across said port to close the same and adaptedto engage said upper sleeve to prevent upward movement of said lowersleeve in said tubular member to port opening position; means includingfrangible instrumentalities connected to said lower sleeve and restingupon the upper end of said second portion releasably holding said lowersleeve in closed position across said port; said lower sleeve includingan upper head portion in sealing relation to said first portion abovesaid port and a lower head portion in sealing relation to said secondportion, said upper and lower head portions providing a differentialarea on said lower sleeve subject to the pressure of iiuid in thetubular member tending to disrupt said frangible instrumentalities andshift said lower sleeve downwardly in the tubular member to port openingposition; and means for disrupting said frangible means and for shiftingsaid upper valve sleeve downwardly in said tubular member to portclosing position.

12. In subsurface valve apparatus adapted for connection to a tubingstring to be disposed in a well bore: a tubular member adapted to beConnected to the tubing string and having a side port; an upper valvemember in said tubular member disposed initially above said port; alower valve member in said tubular member disposed initially across saidport to close the same, said lower member including an upper headportion in sealing relation to said tubular member above said port and alower head portion in sealing relation to said tubular member below saidport, the upper head portion having an upwardly facing total transversearea subject to fluid pressure in said tubular member greater than thedownwardly facing total transverse area of said lower head portionsubject to fluid pressure in said tubular member to provide adifferential area on said lower valve member subject to the pressure offluid in the tubular member tending to shift said lower memberdownwardly in the tubular member to port opening position; said lowervalve member having an external longitudinal bleeder groove extendingfrom positions adjacent to said upper and lower head portions; and meansfor shifting said upper valve member downwardly in -said tubular memberto port closing position.

13. In subsurface valve apparatus adapted for connection to a tubingstring to be disposed in a well bore: a tubular member adapted to beconnected to the tubing string and having a side port; said tubularmember having a first portion above and below said port of a particularinternal diameter and a second portion substantially below said port ofan internal diameter smaller than the internal diameter of said firstportion; an upper valve sleeve in said tubular member disposed initiallylabove said port and having an external diameter conforming to theinternal diameter of said first portion; a lower valve sleeve in saidtubular member disposed initially across said port to close the same,said lower sleeve including an upper head portion in sealing relation tosaid first portion above said port and a lower head portion in sealingrelation to said second portion, said upper and lower head portionsproviding a differential area on said lower sleeve subject to thepressure of fluid in the tubular member tending to shift said lowersleeve downwardly in the tubular member to port opening position; saidlower valve sleeve having an external longitudinal bleeder grooveextending from positions adjacent to said upper and lower head portions;means for shifting said upper valve sleeve downwardly in said tubularmember to port closing position; the lower end of said bleeder groovemoving below said second portion to allow fluid to pass through saidgroove from the region in said tubular member below said upper headportion to a region below said second portion.

14. In subsurface valve apparatus adapted for connection to a tubingstring to be disposed in a well bore: a tubular member adapted to beconnected to the tubing string and having a side port; an upper valvemember in said tubular member-disposed initially above said port andengaged with a transverse shoulder of said tubular member to preventupward movement of said upper valve member therewithin; a lower valvemember in said tubular member disposed initially across said port toclose the same and adapted to engage said upper member to prevent upwardmovement of said lower member in said tubular member to port openingposition; said lower member including an upper head portion in sealingrelation to said tubular member above said port and a lower head portionin sealing relation to said tubular member below said port, the upperhead portion having a upwardly facing total transverse area subject tofluid pressure in said tubular member greater than the downwardly facingtotal transverse area of said lower head portion subject to fluidpressure in said tubular member to provide a differential area on saidlower valve member subject to the pressure of fluid in the tubularmember tending to shift said lower member downwardly in the tubularmember to port opening position; said upper valve member havingoutwardly expandible fingers held initially inwardly by said tubularmember above said shoulder; and means movable down the tubing stringinto engagement with said fingers to shift said upper valve memberdownwardly in said tubular member to port closing position and to locatesaid fingers below said shoulder to prevent upward movement of saidunrJer member in said tubular member.

15. In subsurface valve apparatus adapted for connection to a tubingstring to be disposed in a well bore: a tubular member `adapted to beconnected to the tubing string and having a side port; said tubularmember having a first portion above and below said port of a particularinternal diameter and a second portion substantially below said port ofan internal diameter smaller than the internal diameter of said firstportion, said tubular member also having a downwardly facing shoulderabove said first portion; an upper valve sleeve in said tubular memberdisposed initially above said portand engageable with said shoulder toprevent upward movement of said upper valve sleeve therewithin, saidupper sleeve having an external diameter conforming to the internaldiameter of said first portion; frangible means releasably securing saidupper valve sleeve to said tubula-r member in said initial position; alower valve sleeve in said tubular member disposed initially across saidport to close the same and adapted to engage said upper sleeve toprevent upward movement of said lower sleeve in said tubular member toport opening position; means including frangible instrumentalitiesconnected to said lowe-r sleeve and resting upon the upper end of saidsecond portion to releasably hold said lower sleeve in closed positionacross said port; said lower sleeve including an upper head portion insealing relation to said first portion above said port and a lower headportion in sealing relation to said second portion, said upper and lowerhead portions providing a differential area on said lower sleeve subjectto the pressure of fluid in the tubular member tending to disrupt saidfrangible instrumentalities and shift said lower sleeve downwardly inthe tubular member to port opening position; said upper valve sleevehaving outwardly expandible fingers held initially inwardly by saidtubular member above said shoulder; and means movable down the tubingstring into engagement with said fingers to disrupt said frangible meansand to shift said upper valve sleeve downwardly in said tubular memberto port closing position and to locate said fingers below said shoulderto prevent upward movement of said upper sleeve in said tubular member.

16. In subsurface valve apparatus adapted for connection to a tubingstring to be disposed in a well bore: a tubular member adapted to beconnected to the tubing string and having a side port; said tubularmember having a first portion above and below said port of a particularinternal diameter and a second portion substantially below said port ofan internal diameter smaller than the internal diameter of said firstportion, said tubular member also having a downwardly facing shoulderabove said first portion; an upper valve sleeve in said tubular memberdisposed initially above said port and engageable with said shoulder toprevent upward movement of said upper valve sleeve therewithin, saidupper sleeve having an external diameter conforming to the internaldiameter of said first portion; frangible means releasably securing saidupper valve sleeve to said tubular member in said initial position; alower valve sleeve in said tubular member disposed initially across saidport to close the same and adapted to engage said upper sleeve toprevent upward movement of said lower sleeve in said tubular member toport opening position; means including frangible instrumentalitiesconnected to said lower sleeve and resting upon the upper end of saidsecond portion to releasably hold said lower sleeve in closed positionacross said port; said lower sleeve including an upper head portion insealing relation to said first portion above said port and a lower headportion in sealing relation to said second portion, said upper and lowerhead portions providing a differential area on said lower sleeve subjectto the pressure of uid in the tubular member tending to disrupt saidfrangible instrumentalities and shift said lower sleeve downwardly inthe tubular membe-r to port opening position; said lower valve sleevehaving an external longitudinal bleeder groove extending from positionsadjacent to said upper and lower head portions, whereby downwardmovement of said lower sleeve places the lower end of said groove belowsaid second portion to establish fluid communication through said groovebetween the lregion in said tubular member above said second portion andthe region therewithin below said second portion; said upper valvesleeve having outwardly expandible fingers held initially inwardly bysaid tubular member a'bove said shoulder; and means movable down thetubing string into engagtment with said fingers to disrupt saidfrangible mean-s and to shift said -upper valve sleeve downwardly insaid tubular member to port cl-osing position and to locate said fingersbelow said shoulder to prevent upward movement of said upper sleeve insaid tubular member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,627,314 2/1953Baker et al l66-224 X 2,998,075 8/ 1961 Clark 166-224 X 3,054,415 9/1962 Baker et al. 166-224 X 3,094,307 6/ 1963 Alley 166-224 X CHARLES E.OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

C. D. JOHNSON, D. H. BROWN,

Assistant Examiners.

1. IN SUBSURFACE VALVE APPARATUS ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO A TUBINGSTRING TO BE DISPOSED IN A WELL BORE: A TUBULAR MEMBER ADAPTED TO BECONNECTED TO THE TUBING STRING AND HAVING A SIDE PORT; AN UPPER VALVEMEMBER IN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER DISPOSED INITIALLY ABOVE SAID PORT; ALOWER VALVE MEMBER IN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER DISPOSED INITIALLY ACROSS SAIDPORT TO CLOSE THE SAME, SAID LOWER MEMBER INCLUDING AN UPPER HEADPORTION IN SEALING RELATION TO SAID TUBULAR MEMBER ABOVE SAID PORT AND ALOWER HEAD PORTION IN SEALING RELATION TO SAID TUBULAR MEMBER BELOW SAIDPORT, THE UPPER HEAD PORTION HAVING AN UPWARDLY FACING TOTAL TRANSVERSEAREA SUBJECT TO FLUID PRESSURE IN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER GREATER THAN THEDOWNWARDLY FACING TOTAL TRANSVERSE AREA OF SAID LOWER HEAD PORTIONSUBJECT TO FLUID PRESSURE IN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER TO PROVIDE ADIFFERENTIAL AREA ON SAID LOWER VALVE MEMBER SUBJECT TO THE PRESSURE OFFLUID IN THE TUBULAR MEMBER TENDING TO SHIFT SAID LOWER MEMBERDOWNWARDLY IN THE TUBULAR MEMBER TO PORT OPENING POSITION; AND MEANS FORSHIFTING SAID UPPER VALVE MEMBER DOWNWARDLY IN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER TOPORT CLOSING POSITION.